Improvement in machines for scraping and stripping rattan



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Gr. S. COLBURN. Maohlne for Seraping @nd Stripping Rattan. Patented Nov. 18, 1879.

INVENTDR.

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G. S. COLB'URN. Machine for scraping and Stripping Rattan.

No. 221,720. Patented Nov. 18,1879.

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VVrrrwEEnEfl-:Ei INvENTnR- a! M' d4/W %.2Um 174.',ggfg f N PETERS. FHOTO-UYHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D'C

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i G S. COLBURNE y Machine for `Sreiping and Stripping Rattan. No. 221,720. i, Patellried Nov.18,1879.

m Pigna- )LPEI'ERSY PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C4

'-lvrrnn Srnrns A PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. GOLBURN, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SCRAPING AND STRIPPING RA'ITAN.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22 1,720, dat'ed November 18, 1879; application filed June 2), 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. GoLnURN, of Gardner, in the county of Worcester, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Scraping and Stripping Rattan, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its`object, iirst, means for squaring the end of the cane before it is fed to the scraping and stripping mechanism; second, devices for so presenting the cane to the scraping mechanismthat all its joints are uniformly scraped; third, a peculiar arrangement of the scraping-knives in pairs, whereby theeight knives used are brought so closely together that they act conjo-intly, and by a unison impossible to attain from anyother arrangement; fonrth, automatic means for guiding or centering the cane' in relation to the scraping-knives and 'to the stripping device; fth, means for receiving the pitll portion or reed, and for delivering it regularly and uniform] y to a cradle or other receiver.

Heretofore the scraping-knives have been so `arran ged as to automatically close upon the cane upon`the tripping or release of certain mechanism for holding the knives open; but the mechanism for operating the tripping device was located between the scraping and stripping contrivances, and, as it was actuated by contact of the front end of the cane therewith, quite a percentage Vot' the cane passed beyond 'the scraping-knives before they were closed upon it, and consequently such portion left themachine unscraped, and was substantially of no value.

I have ascertained that by arranging the device `actuating the tripping mechanism in front of the scraping-knives so that the end of the cane comes in contact therewith before it rea-ches the scrapingknives, thereby causing the tripping mechanism to release the knives upon the very end ot' the advancing cane, allthe joints in the cane may be scraped, and a very slight loss, if any, incurred from unscraped joints.

The scraping-knives have also been arranged in groups of three or even four; but I have discovered that by arranging them in groups of two, oneopposite the other, their interval of action can be concentrated, and

that they co-operate in their work more successfully, and that thereby they will act upon the entire circumference of the joint almost simultaneously, and in a superior manner.

Heretofore the pit-h, as it left the machine, was th-rown upon the floor, and no device has ever.been used for collecting it automatically as it leaves the machine into uniform order in a condition for being united into bundles'.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in explaining the nature of my inventiou, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of my improved machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the scrapingknives and their operati ve mechanism. Fig.

- 3 is a cross-section thereof on the line :c of

Fig. 2. It also shows the centering-guides and tripping mechanism,hereinafter explained. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, illustrating the tripping mechanism. Fig. 5 is an elevation ofthe centering-guides. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 7 is a plan representing the construction of the centering mechanism for guiding the cane to the scraping-knives. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 represent the construction and operation yof the device for receiving and delivering the pith. Fig. 11 is a view, part in plan and part in section, illustrating the device for squaring the end of the cane. Fig. '12 illustrates the cane as operated upon by the machine, 'v representing an unscraped joint, v a straight joint, c2 the strands removed by the stripping mechanism, constituting the exterior of the cane, and c3 the pith. Fig. 13 represents the cane with an unsquared end, and Fig'. 14 the cane with a squared end, c4. Fig. 15 is a cross-section on the line y y of Fig. -2, representing the manner in which the strands forming the knives are fastened in their blocks, and the way the said blocks are shaped and secured in their support. Fig. 16 is a plan representing`the shape of the arms which support the blocks carrying the mechanism for centering the cane to the stripping device. Fig. 17 is a cross-section on the line Y Y of Fig. 7.

rlhe end of the cane is squared by means of the revolving cutters e, which are fastened upon t-he under side of the feed-wheel e', or to the shaft operating it, and the cane is presented thereto through the feedway in the i assigne s mouth-piece a2. The knives revolve upon the table a3, surrounded upon its inner edge by a wall, a, which prevents the severed ends from dropping into the machinery. The cane t-hns prepared is then fed through the feedway Ain the mouth-piece b, and is seized by the grooved feed-rolls c l, and by them advanced through guide b' to grooved feedrolls 2, which, co-operating with the tirst pair of rolls, feed the cane through guide b2 to an automatic centering device consisting of the yielding upright rolls b, each of which has an opposing circumferential groove, b4, forming the continuation of the feedway, and each is sup ported upon a post, b5, pivoted at b6 to the block b", carrying the guide b2, and provided with the arms b, which extend by each other and bear against a shoulder formed in the other in such a manner as substantially to constitute a loose joint or hinge. These arms should project on a line with the pivotal points, and should be so curved or rounded upon the ends contacting with the shoulders that any/ movement of one post causes its companion post to move a like distance, but in the opposite direction. A spiral spring., b9, unites the posts, holds the rolls together, or serves to keep one or both of them constantly in contact with the cane as it is passingr between them.

As one roll cannot be moved without the other being moved a like distance in an opposite direction, the cane, if a little ont of line or crooked, will bear upon one of the rolls more strongly than upon the other, and in sodoing will move the last-named roll away from it, so that there will be nothing to oppose the tendency of the tirst roll to straighten the cane and t0 return it to its correct position, in which both rolls bear with equal force upon it. The cane is then presented to the action of the scraping-knives c. These knives are arranged to surround the feedway, are eight in number, are divided into four sets,in each of which one knife is opposite the other, and the various pairs are arranged one behind another in such a manner as to entirely encircle the cane, so that all portions of the circumference of the joint or protuberance which need to be removed or scraped oli` by the successive action of each pairof knives are operated upon. By thus arrangingthe knives in pairs theycan be brought so closely together that their combined action, while nia-de by the successive manipulation ot' the four pairs, amounts in effect almost to a simultaneous operation thereof; and it can be stated as a general rule that the more the groups, whether of two, three, or four knives, are separated the poorer the scraping and the harder the work upon each knife.

The knives project downwardly from their supporting-blocks c, and each block is provided with a curved recess for receiving the steel strand c2, the end of which constitutes the knife. A block. c, corresponding in curvature with thatof the recess, tits therein, and is held thereto by the set-screw c,which passes through a nut, c5, secured to the outer face of the block c', to lay over the knife-holding recess.

Each block c is made somewhat larger at its inner edge, and is arranged to slide radially in the undercut recess or ways c5, ofsimilar shape, in the circular block D. Each block is also provided with a rod or spindle, which passes through a collar, c", fastenedto the circumference of the disk D', and is surrounded by a spiral spring, c, arranged to bear upon the collar and a shoulder on the block. The object of this construction is to give the knifecarrying blocks, and consequently the knives, a yielding radial movement suicient to enable them to be separated and held apart, in order that the end of the cane may be inserted between them, and then tobeantomaticallyclosed thereon. This opening or outward movement of the knives is effected 'by means of the. wheel D2, which surrounds the block D, and has formed upon its circumference an incline or cam, d, for each block, se arranged as to contact with the piu d projecting toward the disk D therefrom. Aniiamprdand the oper ating-lever d, serve to :minste the cam-wheel sufficiently to cause the incliues A to move the knife-blocks outwardly against the stress of the springs c. In cnder,howe\'er, that the knives may be automatically closed upon the cane, I have provided a tripping mechanism, which is operated by one of the pivoted guiderolls b3; and for this purpose I pivot the latch e to the circumference of the disk D', and pro vide it with a spring, c; which keeps it constantly in contact with ih side of the arm d2. Upon the lifting of the Wm by the lever d3 the latch catches and retains it until thrown back by the advance of the incline e2', which, contacting with the opposing inclined face of the projection e extending from the latch, forces the latch backward or away t'rom the arm, thereby releasing it and permitting the kniftl -blocks to simultaneously close under stress of their actuating-springs c".

The block upon which the incline e2 is formed is secured upon the bareby means of a slot, e5, and set-screw e, and it is adjusted thereon by screw e". The bar is provided with suitable bearings on the post e, and is pivoted to a support, e9, which is fastened to one of the pivoted posts b5.

It will readily be seen that the end of the cane will cause the guide-roll, and consequently its post and the bar e, to move outwardly, and this movement causes the incline e2 to operate the latch, as indicated.

To set the knives for the reception ofthe cane, the lever d3 is moved suiciently to cause the arm to be caught by the latch, and the opening of the guide-roll on the advance of the cane, causes the tripping of the latch and the closing 0f the knives upon it. I

The cane, passing through the scraping mechanism, is advanced by the grooved yield ing feed-ro1ls 3 to the centering device for presenting the cane to the slitting and stripping knives. 1t consists in the two upright grooved rolls f, eachofwhich is'fasteuedfto a post, f', projecting:upwardly from a block, f2, by a collar. .f

The blocks fzare, eaclnsnpported by an arm, f3, 'shaped as'representedjn Fig. 16 and pivoted at]g4 to theframeot'the machine, and eachblock isprovided with adj ustment thereon to and fronieach other within the Ways f5 by means of the set-screw j and slot f7 and the adjusting-screw f8. a

The .arms f 3 are each provided with a projecting bar, fg, arranged to contact either at their ends or at some other point adjacent thereto, and which are `somewhat rounded, and a coiled spring, f1", serves to keep the rollsf together when'notin action-.that is, the rolls are separatedby the rattan` against the stress of this spring; The bars ff yproject from the pivoted points of leach bar toward each other. By this construction one roll-cannot be moved Without moving the other a like distance in the opposite direction, as Vthe movement yofone lever 'is communicated by the bar fg'to the the othera The operation of these rolls vas a centering mechanism in guiding the cane to the stripping-knives is identical with that-of the rolls b3' in connection with the scraping mechanism.

The device forslittin g and stripping the rattan consists i-n a cylindrical knife, havin g radial knives. g proiectingtherefrom at a proper dis-- tance in relation to each other to divide the -cane removed from the pith into the desired widths. It is similarin construction to knives already employed rb r this purpose, a-nd need not further be described.

- The pith is drawn through the hole g', forming an extension off-.the fleedway, by means of the yielding grooved rolls 4. The pith, passing between these rolls and through the guide h, and between the 'grooved Irolls 5, is advanced through theY guide h tocne otr the series of chambers 'M in the circumference of the long wheel or roll m. This chambered roll is supported in any desirable way,and is surrounded, except uponits underportion, by the covering or box m', to which a series of curved supports, mlmconstituting a cradle or receiver for the pith, is attached.

The chamberedwheel, by means ot' the lever m3, carrying a pawknr?, and the ratchet-Wheel m5, the connecting-rod m, leverkml, which is pivoted .at ma to a bracket, m9, depending from the frameof theimachine, a connecting-rod, m1", which connects the end ofthe lever with the end ofthe operating-lever d3, is revolved in an intermittent manner `by the same lever that operates 'to -set the scraping-knives.

Astheroll revolves each chamber receives astrand of pith-from the .feedway, and itis advanced ,thereby until vit is dropped therefrom through the opening in the box/into the cradle or receiver asl each-chamber reaches it, and thestrands are Athus uniformly arranged to beconvenientlytied.into bundles andre- 1110.\ed

A spring, m11, serves to automatically return and maintain the operating-lever d3 in an elevated position after each downward movement thereof. This is necessary in order that the operating end ot the lever may be moved from the path of the arm d2 when it is released by the latch.

The feed-rolls are each supported at the upper endof a vertical shaft, n, and each shaft is arranged to yield against the pressure ot a spring,v n', which bears against a box, n2, throughwhich the shaft passes. The tension of each spring is` adjusted by a screw, n3.

Power is communicated to the various shafts by means of the driving gear-wheel a* and the train of connecting-gear a5. The lower end of each shaft is provided with any suitable bearing, and as this method of supporting the feed-rolls and of actuating them is not new, it is notnecessary to further describe the construction and operation of this portion ot' the operating mechanism.

The strippin g-knite is supported upon ablock, g', from which projects an upwardly-curved guide, g2, for throwing oi`1c from the machine the exterior ot' the cane as itis stripped therefrom. The knife and guide are made laterally adjustable by means of the screw g".

The operation ot' this machine other than that of the parts constituting the improvement, and which has been mentioned collaterallywith their description, is like that of the machine ordinarily employed for this work, and the advantage of the improvements is obtained from the general organization of the machine, as described, whereby all waste of .cane by the causes which existed in the old machines for scraping and slitting is obviated, the cane more easily centered in the scraping and slitting knives, and the pith collected in a condition to be tied into bundles.

By the -method herein shown of holding the scraping-knife supporting-block, the block can be readily and quickly removed from the machine by simply unscrewing the screw 0, which fastens the collar c7 to the disk D', the knife-supporting block being so shaped that it can be moved outwardly from its supportingblock D. This construction is very desirable, as it is necessary to frequently remove the knives from the machine for the purpose of sharpening them.

It will be observed thatin operation the scraping-knives are openl or set'beforc the rat- 'tan is fed, and by the contact of the forward end of the advancing cane with the centeringrolls, arranged in advance of the scrapingknives, they are automatically closed upon the end oil the rattan. The distance between the centering device and the scrapingknives and the speed with which the rattan is fed should be so regulated that the end of the cane shall have passed between the knives before they are closed. In some instances the centering device and the connecting mechanism may be so arrangedthat the rst joint upon thc cane will atl'ect the automatic closing of the scraping-knives in lieti of the extreme end of the cane.

In ordinary rattan machinery the cane is fed with very great rapidity; but the centering device should be located as near the scraping-knives as practicable.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a rattan scraping and stripping machine, the combination of a feed-wheel, a', provided with the cutters a, with the mouth-piece a, provided with a feedway substantially parallel with the main feedway A, all arranged substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a rattan scraping and stripping machine, the combination of the revolving cntters a., secured to the under side of the feedwheel a', or to the shaft operating it, the horizontal table a, the wall a, extended around the inner edge of the table, as described, and the month-piece a2, provided with a feedway, all arranged in relation to each other, and in relation to the feedway A of the rattan-machine, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, in a rattan scraping and stripping machine. of two guides, b3, supported upon the posts b5, pivoted as described, and providedwith the arms Il, with the spring b9, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a rattan scraping and stripping machine, of two guides, f, supported upon the posts f', as described, each of which is provided with the arm f3, having a projecting bar, j, which come in contact and are somewhat rounded upon their contacting ends, as described, and the springf', all arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

5. In a rattan scraping and stripping maclline, the combination of a centering device consisting ofthe two guiding-rolls bi', adapted to be moved to and from each other, as specitied, with the scraping-knives c, adapted to be set or opened before the feeding of the cane, and to be closed automatically upon the outward movement of either of the two guides by connecting mechanism, substantially as described, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a machine for scraping rattan, the scrapingknives c, arranged in successive pairs in such a manner as to entirely encircle the cane, and adapted to be separated and held apart before the feeding of the cane, and to be automatically closed upon the extreme end ofthe cane by suitable springs, which springs are thrown into operation by the mechanism described, and which also provide the knives with a yielding adjustment when closed, all substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. In arattau-stripping machine, as a means for setting or opening the scraping-knives preparatory' to the feeding of the cane, the combination of the knives c, their supportingblocks c', each provided with the pins d', the cam-disk D2, provided with the arm d2, with the lever d3, and the latch e, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. The combination, in a rattan scraping machine, of the knives c, arranged to be opened by the mechanism described, and held open against the stress of the springs c by means of the latch e, with the guides b3, arranged in front of said knives, and adapted to move the latch e upon the contact of the frontend ofthe cane therewith, whereby the knives are closed upon the extreme end of the passing cane, all substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

9. The combination of the disk D2, provided with the cams or inclines d and the arm d2. the knife-supporting blocks c', and springs c8 with the latch e and operating-lever d, all arranged in relation to each other to operate suhstantially as described.

10. The combination of the adjustable tripping-block e2, its supporting-bar e4, and post e, all arranged to be operated by the movement of one of the guides b, substantially as and for the purposes described.

11. The combination, in a rattan-stripping machine, of the latch e, adapted to automatically engage with and hold the arm d projecting from the disk carrying the cams or inclines operating the knife-supporting blocks in the manner indicated, with the wedge shaped block e, adapted to engage with said latch and to be operated by the movement of one of the guides in the manner specitied, substatitially as described.

12. The combination of a support fastened to the pivoted post carrying one of the guides b3, and movable therewith, with the bar e, trippingblock e1, and latch e, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

13. In a rattan-machine, the combination ot' the stripping device for removing the exterior of the cane from the pith, the feeding-rolls for advancing the pith to the receiving and transferring chamber, and the said receiving and transferring chamber M, adapted to be revolved as described, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. The combination, in a rattanmachine, of the roll m, provided with the chambers M, arranged at the end of the machine and adapted to receive the pith inthe manner indicated, with the described means for intermittently revolving the roll., all substantially as and for the purposes described.

15. The combination of the roll m, provided with the chambers M, partially inclosed by the box m', with the curved arms or cradle m2 and means for revolving the roll, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

16. The combination, in a rattan-machine, of the roll provided with the pith-receiving chambers M, adapted to be successively brought in line with the feedway of the ratstripping mechanism, and a roll provided with chambers for receiving the pith and for delivering it from the machine, all combined and arranged to operate in an organized machine, substantially as and for the purposes described.

GEO. S. COLBURN.

Witnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, A. J. OETTINGER. 

